Santiago Tarrío has achieved a close victory in the Challenge of Spain disputed in the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri and, with two victories and a third place in the last three weeks, he is crowned Challenge Tour number 1.
The compostelano faced the final day of the Challenge of Spain with options, as well as a dozen players who came out to just three strokes. The Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri It is a fair course, which is in extraordinary condition, and which provides opportunities, but which punishes mistakes considerably, so that anyone who was 7-8 strokes from the head could sign a good return and win the title.
Tired, after 9 weeks of racing in a row, Tarrío He has never let his guard down and has fought every birdie on the field. The classification was changing the leader and, reaching the last holes of the tournament, it seemed that the French Frederic Lacroix was going to take the title. But in golf, and specifically at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, designed by Seve Ballesteros, the last holes can change history, and they have. Tarrío he finished his round with -20, with the Frenchman in first position with -21 and two holes to finish, in which the possibility of a play-off was sensed. The Frenchman took a risk on the last two holes, which are very dangerous, and far from sentencing his victory, he finished with two errors to give a hard-fought victory to Santiago Tarrío.
Tarrío, A member of the ProSpain Team has signed a final score of 66 strokes, with 6 birdies and no errors to sign the double with a total of 20 strokes under par. “Today I did not play well, but it is incredible, because of the positive dynamics that I have, things have turned out well and I have not played bright, but I have taken a spectacular 6-under-par lap. At all times I have seen that I had options, I have tried to birdie in all the holes, shooting all the flags, especially in the last holes and 2 have entered. In the 16th I made a 10-meter putt that was the winner.
This victory means a lot to me, but above all to my team, I have a great team that helps me to be better every day. It was fantastic to win with Noe, my girlfriend, with me as a caddy; It has helped me a lot, it is incredible how he sees the falls that I do not see. Having her here with me makes it an even more special victory.
After the swing fixes I did last year, which I had a terrible time, I am playing much better, although there are still little things to polish. My game is to be very precise with the irons, the approach and the putting, the last three weeks have been magnificent and it is what allows me to be up there.
Now I see the goal closer, which is to get to the European Tour, settle down and win. I’m taking the right steps from below and I’m on my way. I know I have things to work on, but that’s the good thing, if not, we would have a problem.
I’m tired, but whenever I have a day of trout fishing at home, it takes away all the fatigue and I’m new.
I love being number 1 in the ranking, but you have to keep working to finish like this, the goal is to keep working to be at the top as much as possible at the end of the year”.
In second position the French have been tied Fredric Lacroix, the scotch Ewen Ferguson and the australian Blake Windred with 19 strokes under par.
Very meritorious has been the performance of the Barcelona player Lucas Vacarisas, also from the ProSpain Team, which during the last day has occupied the position of leader on several occasions, especially with the eagle on the 12th hole, but has paid for the error on the 17th that has taken away the options for victory, but not its reward. Today he made 67 strokes for -19: “I am happy, I have fought it and I am going with confidence to the rest of the tournaments; With this 5th place I keep the card for the year and that is a peace of mind, now we have to keep fighting.
The Challenge of Spain has been sponsored by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation – State Lotteries and Betting and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, and with the collaboration of the Higher Sports Council, Allianz, AON, EDP Solar Halcón Viajes, Kyocera (official services of impression), Iberostar (Official Hotel), Solán de Cabras and Hospital Viamed Novo Sancti Petri. The organizer has been JGolf. The Challenge of Spain supports the celebration of the Solheim Cup 2023.
